PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) -The Arnold girl’s soccer team is off to a 6-2-1 start, and a big reason for the early success so far, the play and leadership of our Walborsky, Bradley and Fleming Student Athlete of the Week, senior Kendall Sears.
“All my cousins have played soccer from a young age. But I didn’t start until sixth grade because I just wanted to play a sport in middle school. And I just fell in love with this sport, and I’ve been playing it ever since.”
That’s Sears talking about how she picked up the sport. Sears is currently sporting a 4.59 grade point average. So obviously she’s pretty cerebral. And it’s a trait she carries on to the pitch.
“I feel like just the way that you have to think quickly and work on technical skill. There’s always something you can improve, so that’s just drawn me in from the beginning.” Kendall tells us.
“She just brings a ton of energy to this team.” adds Arnold head coach Larry Cecchini. “I’ve known Kendall for years, I coached her back probably when she was probably 12 years old often on often on until now, the last couple of years. She just brings a ton of energy and a positive attitude. I don’t know if there’s ever a time I haven’t seen her smiling. But at the same time, she’s very competitive. And you put her on that pitch and she sees that ball in front of her, boy she’s going to play. ”
Sears among the team leaders in goals and assists on the way to helping the Marlins to a 6-2-1 start to the season. So she’s stands out for her talent. She’s also a true team leader says her coach, making her an even bigger asset to the program.
“Oh yeah, yeah,” says the coach “because she’s played for so long, she knows the game. So, she’s able to go out there and help the other players you know, talk through, not in a negative way. Just hey, did you think about doing this, why don’t you think about doing this next time? And yeah, the kids really respond to her. ”
Kendall says she feels an obligation to lead in any way she can. “I feel like just building up your team so they can be successful after I graduate, and just so they can improve their own personality, their own leadership skills is really important. And I want to make my teammates the best possible that they can be.”
Beyond this season, Kendall will take her outstanding academic resume to Gulf Coast and then FSU Panama City as she heads down the road to helping others, with a career in occupational therapy!
“I feel like I’ve always just had that in me, just wanting to help people. My mom was a nurse so just being from a little age. I’ve always kind of been interested in just a health care career. And then I heard about occupational therapy and that really interests me.”
Newschannel 7’s Student Athlete of the Week is sponsored by Walborsky, Bradley and Fleming.
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